69% of flights from Newark to Los Angeles arrived on time over the past 12 months. That is worse than the typical U.S. route. The 11 a.m. departures ran on time 84% of the time; the 8 p.m. ones 55%. Most reliable airline: Alaska Airlines (70%). 15% of flights arrived more than an hour late or not at all.
How late?
The on-time rate treats a flight 20 minutes late the same as one 5 hours late. Here's the split for EWR → LAX: when a flight was late, it was under 45 minutes late 49% of the time. About 1 in 8 flights landed an hour or more late, and 1 in 35 three hours or more; 2.5% were cancelled outright.
- On time or early69%
- 15–30 min late8.8%
- 30–60 min late7.8%
- 1–2 hours late6.4%
- 2–3 hours late2.7%
- 3+ hours late2.9%
- Diverted0.2%
- Cancelled2.5%
Share of all 4,750 scheduled flights, past 12 months, by arrival time against schedule.
By airline
| Airline | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | 1h+ late | Avg when late | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Airlines | 3,527 | 70% | 1.9% | −3 min | 11.6% | +84 min | United Airlines |
| Alaska Airlines | 491 | 70% | 2.6% | −9 min | 10.2% | +71 min | Alaska Airlines |
| JetBlue | 480 | 68% | 3.3% | −1 min | 13.8% | +79 min | JetBlue |
| Spirit Airlines | 252 | 57% | 7.9% | +3 min | 16.7% | +82 min | Spirit Airlines |
Airline = the name on the ticket. Regional flights (e.g. "Delta Connection") count under the ticketing airline, and the operator is listed.
Best time of day to fly
On-time rate by scheduled departure hour (local time at EWR). Delays build through the day as late planes knock on, so early flights usually do best.
By airline and hour
| Departs | United Airlines | Alaska Airlines | JetBlue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 78% | — | — |
| 7 a.m. | 72% | — | — |
| 8 a.m. | 57% | — | — |
| 9 a.m. | 68% | 66% | — |
| 10 a.m. | 75% | — | — |
| 11 a.m. | 84% | — | — |
| noon | 72% | — | — |
| 2 p.m. | 71% | — | — |
| 3 p.m. | 79% | — | — |
| 4 p.m. | 60% | — | — |
| 5 p.m. | 69% | — | — |
| 6 p.m. | 67% | — | — |
| 7 p.m. | 68% | 71% | — |
| 8 p.m. | 55% | — | 56% |
Last flight of the day
On EWR → LAX, each airline's last flight of the day was cancelled 3.5% of the time, against 1.9% for its earlier flights (1.8× as often). It arrived 3+ hours late 4.3% of the time (earlier flights: 2.7%). It matters more than the numbers suggest. Miss an earlier flight and there's another one that evening; miss the last one and you're usually waiting until morning.
| Airline | Last departure | Last: cancelled | Last: 3h+ late | Earlier: cancelled | Next morning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines | 7:29 p.m. | 4.0% | 1.6% | 0.8% | first flight 7:29 p.m. |
| JetBlue | 8:59 p.m. | 4.9% | 3.9% | 2.2% | first flight 7:30 a.m. |
| United Airlines | 8:05 p.m. | 2.2% | 5.5% | 1.9% | first flight 6:00 a.m. |
Last flight = the airline's last scheduled departure on this route that day, on days it flies the route at least twice; past 12 months. Times are typical scheduled times over the latest three months.
If you need to be in LAX tonight, book an earlier flight so there's a backup if it's cancelled.
By month
Each calendar month pooled over 2023–2026. Best: March (81%). Worst: July (63%).
By day of week
| Day | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 716 | 72% | 2.6% |
| Tuesday | 660 | 72% | 2.6% |
| Wednesday | 666 | 75% | 0.4% |
| Thursday | 687 | 69% | 2.5% |
| Friday | 694 | 69% | 1.4% |
| Saturday | 636 | 67% | 2.4% |
| Sunday | 691 | 58% | 5.2% |
Why flights were late
Share of delay minutes on flights 15+ minutes late, as reported to BTS by the airlines.
Cancellations: weather 69 · airline 36 · air traffic/airport 12
Month by month
Flight numbers on this route
Regular flights with at least 120 scheduled trips in the past year. Sorted by departure time.
| Flight | Departs | Flights | On time | Cancelled | Typical arrival | Operated by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UA 2434 | 6:00 a.m. | 361 | 78% | 1.1% | −4 min | United Airlines |
| UA 2445 | 7:00 a.m. | 234 | 76% | 0.4% | −5 min | United Airlines |
| B6 1573 | 7:30 a.m. | 207 | 73% | 2.4% | −6 min | JetBlue |
| UA 2692 | 8:40 a.m. | 310 | 65% | 1.6% | +1 min | United Airlines |
| UA 2679 | 10:00 a.m. | 364 | 75% | 1.9% | −6 min | United Airlines |
| UA 2191 | 2:45 p.m. | 340 | 72% | 2.1% | −6 min | United Airlines |
| UA 2238 | 4:00 p.m. | 363 | 66% | 3.3% | −4 min | United Airlines |
| B6 1873 | 5:15 p.m. | 152 | 67% | 2.6% | +2 min | JetBlue |
| UA 2641 | 5:30 p.m. | 360 | 68% | 2.5% | −4 min | United Airlines |
| UA 353 | 6:45 p.m. | 273 | 65% | 1.8% | 0 min | United Airlines |
| AS 287 | 7:29 p.m. | 325 | 70% | 3.4% | −10 min | Alaska Airlines |
| UA 712 | 8:00 p.m. | 241 | 54% | 2.5% | +10 min | United Airlines |
| B6 2073 | 8:59 p.m. | 121 | 61% | 5.8% | +1 min | JetBlue |
Worst days in the past year
| Date | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 23, 2026 | 12 | 0% | 12 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | 10 | 0% | 8 |
| Jan 18, 2026 | 9 | 0% | 0 |
| Nov 9, 2025 | 16 | 6% | 2 |
| Dec 14, 2025 | 15 | 7% | 3 |
Nearby airport alternatives
Other ways to make the same trip, using airports within 60 miles of Newark or Los Angeles. EWR → SNA has been 13 points more reliable.
| Route | Flights | On time | Cancelled |
|---|---|---|---|
| EWR → LAX (this route) | 4,750 | 69% | 2.5% |
| EWR → SNA Newark to Orange County John Wayne | 1,091 | 82% | 2.0% |
| JFK → SNA New York JFK to Orange County John Wayne | 493 | 80% | 2.4% |
| JFK → LAX New York JFK to Los Angeles LAX | 10,285 | 73% | 2.8% |
Questions
How often are flights from EWR to LAX on time?
69% of 4,750 scheduled flights from Newark, NJ to Los Angeles, CA arrived within 15 minutes of schedule between September 2025 and August 2026. 2.5% were cancelled.
What is the best time of day to fly EWR to LAX?
Flights scheduled to leave at 11 a.m. were the most reliable (84% on time). The 8 p.m. departures were the least (55%).
Which airline is most on time from EWR to LAX?
Alaska Airlines: 70% of its 491 flights on the route arrived on time. United Airlines: 70%. JetBlue: 68%. Spirit Airlines: 57%.
What month has the most delays from EWR to LAX?
July (63% on time). The best month is March (81%), over 2023–2026.
Is the last flight of the day from EWR to LAX more likely to be cancelled?
Yes. Each airline's last EWR–LAX flight of the day was cancelled 3.5% of the time over the past year, against 1.9% for its earlier flights. If the last flight is cancelled, the next one is usually the following morning.
Related
- LAX → EWR (return)
- Newark (EWR) delays by hour
- Flights into Los Angeles LAX (LAX)
- United Airlines on-time record
- Alaska Airlines on-time record
- JetBlue on-time record
- Spirit Airlines on-time record
- Connecting off this flight? Check the risk
Domestic flights by the airlines that report to the U.S. DOT, plus their regional partners. "On time" means arriving less than 15 minutes after schedule; cancelled and diverted flights count as not on time. Past performance is a guide, not a forecast. Method.